Tray Mat Pattern

The square motif shown here as a tray mat is adaptable to many articles.

MATERIALS.—2 balls Ardern's crochet cotton No. 20 (old ticket number) or No. 40 (new ticket number). Tatting shuttle.

MEASUREMENTS.—Tray mat 17 ins. x 12¾ ins. Motif, 4¼ ins. x 4¼ ins.

MOTIF CENTER.
Ring.—2 ds., 4 p. sep. by 4 ds., 2 ds., close ring. Tie and cut.

ROUND 1.
Ring 1.—3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., join to p. of center ring, 3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring.
*Ring 2.—3 ds., join to last p. of previous ring 3 ds., 8 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring.
Repeat from * twice more, joining last p. of 4th ring to 1st p. of 1st ring. Tie and cut.
Make three more sections in the same way, joining them to form a square, as shown in the diagram.

ROUND 2.
*Join thread to center p. of one outer ring (marked A on diagram).
Chain.—3 ds., 13 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., r.w.
Ring 1.—3 ds., 7 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring.
Ring 2.—3 ds., join to 7th p. of previous ring, 3 ds., 3 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., join to center p. of next ring of round 1(same motif) 3 ds., join to center p. of adjacent ring of next motif, 3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring.
Ring 3.—As ring 1, joining 1st p. to last p. of previous ring, r.w.
Chain.—As before.
Repeat from * to end, tie and cut.

ROUND 3.
*Ring 1.—3 ds., 1 p., 3 ds., join to 4th p. from right of 1st chain of previous round, 3 ds., 1 p., 3 ds., close ring, r.w.
Chain 1.—3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., r.w.
Ring 2.—3 ds., 3 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., miss 2 p. of chain of previous row, join to next, 3 ds., 3 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring, r.w.
Chain 2.—3 ds., 5 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., r.w.
Ring 3.—3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., miss 2 p. of chain, join to next, 3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring, r.w.
Chain 3.—As chain 1.
Ring 4.—3 ds., 3 p. sep. by 3 ds., join to 8th p. of previous ring, 3 ds., 4 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., close ring, r.w.
Chain 4.—3 ds., 3 p. sep. by 3 ds., 3 ds., r.w.
Ring 5.—As ring 4 joining 3rd p. to 6th p. of previous ring.
Chain 5.—As chain 1.
Ring 6.—As ring 3, joining 2nd p. to 5th p. of previous ring, and 5th p. to 4th p. of next chain.
Chain 6.—As chain 2.
Ring 7.—As ring 2, missing 2 p. of chain and joining 4th p. to next.
Chain 7.—As chain 1.
Ring 8.—As ring 1 missing 2 p. and joining 2nd p. to next.
Chain 8.—3 ds., 1 p., 3 ds., r.w. Repeat from * to end, tie and cut.

TO JOIN MOTIFS.
Work the first two rounds as for first motif, then work two repeats of third round. On next repeat join 2nd and 3rd picots of chain 5 to corresponding picots on first motif, and 2nd, 3rd and 4th picots of chain 6, to corresponding picots on first motif. On next repeat join chains 2 and 3 in the same way.

Join four motifs into a row. For the next row join on one motif to adjacent side of first motif, then join on three more, joining these on two adjacent sides. Join a third row of four motifs to this, so that the completed mat measures four motifs by three. Launder and starch before using.